Auburn Hills, Mich. -- Team Mopar driver Allen Johnson would like to
build positive momentum for his Mopar/J&J Racing Dodge Stratus R/T NHRA
Pro Stock team prior to the start of the NHRA Countdown to 1 playoffs. A
victory in the final NHRA regular season race, the tradition-rich 55th
Annual Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, would provide Johnson the perfect
playoff push. The event is scheduled for Sept. 2--7 at O'Reilly
Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind., with qualifying in the pro classes
set to begin on Sept. 4.

Johnson has secured his playoff berth and can focus on finding a winning
setup for Indy and beyond. The Greeneville, Tenn., native doesn't
have to look back very far for instances of past U.S. Nationals success.
Johnson claimed the No. 1 Qualifier Award at the 2008 Indy event. The
veteran Team Mopar driver says he is confident he can rebound from
failing to qualify at the NHRA event in Reading (his first DNQ in 61
races) to claim his first U.S. Nationals win and third win of the 2009
NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series.

"I think we've proven that we're strong and we've gained
on the competition," said Johnson. "Even with our little stub of
the toe at Reading, we're fine. It's time to start the plan for
the Countdown to 1. We're going to bring some new stuff to the table
at Indy and get our setup correct for the playoffs. We're going to
hone the new setup with test sessions in St. Louis prior to the U.S.
Nationals."

Johnson's focus at Indy will be on his own Mopar-powered Pro Stocker
but he also has a vested interest in the success of his J&J Racing
teammate, Johnny Gray. The Mopar-fueled Gray advanced to the finals at
Reading and trails Warren Johnson by just nine points in the race for the
tenth and final spot in the Countdown to 1 playoffs.

"Johnny's performance at Reading showed what he and his team are
capable of," Johnson said. "Dad [J&J Racing engine builder Roy
Johnson, Allen's father] is certainly giving him good motors and good
direction and hopefully he can continue that at Indy and get into the
Countdown. To have two J&J Racing-prepared motors in the Countdown would
be a testament to our team and to the power and performance of Mopar
HEMI engines.

"We've really had a great year to date. A win at Indy would
certainly put us on track to really go after a championship. If we could
finish up the year with both, it would be huge."